Game (scores) are art: Journey soundtrack nominated for a Grammy

Haunting composition is up against film score legends like Williams and Zimmer.

The debate about whether games are a legitimate art form is a never-ending back-and-forth that's actually getting a bit tiresome at this point. At the very least, though, outside bodies are beginning to recognize that games at least contain artistic elements that are worthy of consideration in their own right. Thus, we have thatgamecompany's hauntingly beautiful, cello-heavy Journey soundtrack being nominated for a Grammy this year in the Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media category.

The Austin Wintory-composed soundtrack (which you can listen to in its entirety here) will compete directly with works by well-known film composers such as John Williams (The Adventure of Tintin), Howard Shore (Hugo), and Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight Rises). Wintory tweeted his speechless reaction to the nomination announcement and the outpouring of support he received following it. "I don't think I've ever felt genuinely overwhelmed before until last night, reading everyone's messages," he wrote. "You are all SO wonderful."

In 2007, the Emmy Awards recognized video games in its Technology and Engineering Emmy awards, lauding Nintendo's directional pad as well as Sony's Dual Shock Controller and "Xross media bar" interface. The Television Academy also awarded John Carmack and id Software a special award for the development of 3D engines, and praised Microsoft, AMD, and Nvidia for "Pioneering Work in Near and Real-Time Fully Programmable Shading Via Modern Graphics Processors."

52 Reader Comments

As the old "gaming is still just a fad" standard-bearers fade from the ranks of the vanguard, it will slowly recognize what we knew all along; gaming is not only the cultural norm, it's an art form that has defined two generations.

Damn straight videogame scores are art. Anyone's who has listened to soundtracks from games like Morrowind or Total Annihilation can attest to this. In fact, I'm pretty sure those are done by the same guy.

When I first heard the Journey soundtrack, I immediately told everyone around me that it was equal to (if not better than) any modern movie soundtrack. It seems I was correct in that opinion. Looking at the movie soundtracks it's up against (all of which I'm very familiar with), I strongly believe Journey should win. It's actually that good.

For those of you that haven't played the game yet, do so. But even if you don't, go get the soundtrack and enjoy. It's breathtakingly beautiful.

Having had the pleasure of working with Austin early in his career, I can't tell you how happy I am for him. He deserves this nomination and I hope he wins. The guy's been that good since I first met him on Everquest when he was 17.

Love the Journey soundtrack. I think Bastion's may be better, although it's not as orchestra-friendly.

What surprises me is that truly amazing music in video games isn't even anything new. All the orchestral covers of those old MIDI-tracks from the 16-bit games are incredibly good.

I mean, there are games out there that simply drop the latest poprockrap abortion in and call it a soundtrack, but there are many more that have development teams that seem to understand how important good music is.

I'd be shocked if Wintory won, but it's not like the Grammys haven't surprised us before.

The "music industry" may be dying, but music itself is definitely going through a renaissance.

Damn straight videogame scores are art. Anyone's who has listened to soundtracks from games like Morrowind or Total Annihilation can attest to this. In fact, I'm pretty sure those are done by the same guy.

Edit: Yep, they were done by Jeremy Soule. I freaking love that guy.

Soule also did the Guild Wars soundtrack, which is freaking amazing. Fort Ranik March and Sunspear Assault are great instrumental pieces.

And on the subject of TES, also Skyrim. Had some great music, especially the piece everyone's familiar with: Song of the Dragonborn (song you hear in the background of the main menu and during dragon fights).

On the subject of other artists, why not someone as famous as Martin O'Donnell, who did the Halo soundtrack? Or Jesper Kyd, whom I first heard in the Hitman soundtrack (and whom has done several other pieces).

There are several already-great games made better by the music, like System Shock 2, Half-Life (1 and 2), Deus Ex, X3, Splinter Cell (hell yes Amon Tobin and to another extent Behavior), Doom (Bobby Prince anyone?), S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (Firelake created all of the songs), and many more that I'm sure I'm forgetting.

Beyond that, even mod creators have done some great pieces, like Steve Foxon in Redsun 2020 and ZODIAC.

Richard Wagner, the opera composer, used to talk about the ideal of gesamtkunstwerk, a complete melding of all arts - story, music, acting, painting, light, movement, etc. The final section of Journey made me think of that - the soundtrack is inextricably coupled with the art design, the movement, and the feeling created in the player.

Journey's the shortest game I played this year, and easily the most affecting, both during the gameplay and for months afterwards.

I don't normally pay a lot of attention to video game music, but when I got Bastion and The Binding of Isaac the soundtracks were included. They're really quite good. Also available to listen for free online.

Damn straight videogame scores are art. Anyone's who has listened to soundtracks from games like Morrowind or Total Annihilation can attest to this. In fact, I'm pretty sure those are done by the same guy.

Edit: Yep, they were done by Jeremy Soule. I freaking love that guy.

Whenever I hear the words "game", "great" and "soundtrack" I immediately think of Total Annihilation. That game made me sweat my chair soaked, and the soundtrack was a big part of it.

The Metriod Prime soundtrack should have been nominated during it's time.

Amen to that. I still listen to the Metroid Prime soundtrack at work. I'm actually listening to the Jet Force Gemini soundtrack right now amongst the other soundtracks on my playlist: Donkey Kong Country 1 and 2, various Zelda games, Black Mesa, etc.

Video game soundtracks are great as unobtrusive background music for office work.

As much as we don't need the Grammy's, recognition like this does accelerate acceptance by those who aren't immersed in gaming.

Skyward Sword music was very nice. @Rydeck07 Jet Force Gemini. Always nice to see another person who knows that game. It's a great one and the soundtrack was amazing, especially for the time and on the N64.

Video game soundtracks are just coming mainstream - see the rise of Video Games Live concerts and its various derivatives (including Play! which carries Nintendo, and others dedicated to Final Fantasy and others).

But heck, I listen to Halo 4's soundtrack - it's pretty epic and comparable to the O'Donnel ones as well.

Video game soundtracks are just coming mainstream - see the rise of Video Games Live concerts and its various derivatives (including Play! which carries Nintendo, and others dedicated to Final Fantasy and others).

But heck, I listen to Halo 4's soundtrack - it's pretty epic and comparable to the O'Donnel ones as well.

Duh. After I saved the world, I wanted to settle down and marry Mjoll, but in the process of saving the world, I turned control of her city over to that corrupt bitch Maven Blackbriar. I don't know if I could face Mjoll after she's worked so hard to clean up the place and I turn around and flush her work down the drain.

Also, I'm not sure how she feels towards Aerin. He saved her life and I'd hate to interfere with their friendship. Plus, my character is a female Khajiit. That might be awkward.

My point is, when relationships are as complicated pain in the arse as they are IRL, I think we can say games have become an art form.

IIRC, Stephen Spielberg once said video games would be art once somebody confesses that they cried at Level 17. Clearly, he never played Final Fantasy 6 (FF3 to yanks).

People always talk about Aeris(th) kicking the bucket in 7. I was a bit depressed, I guess, but otherwise fine.

Also, Celes and the cliff (I didn't find out you could save his life with the fast fish until I was almost 20), Setzer returning to the Falcon, Locke's quest to save Rachel and the fate of Cyan's family.

Joining the love too. "Setting sail, coming home" is one of my favorite songs ever, be it soundtrack or not.

And a thread about games' soundtracks without a mention of the Mega Man tunes of the NES and SNES era is never complete. I'll be forever amazed at what the Capcom artists did with so little in terms of resources on both Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3 on the NES. And, back in the day, the ending theme in Mega Man X made my mom (who does not like games at all) stop by the TV just to listen, amazed.

And on the subject of TES, also Skyrim. Had some great music, especially the piece everyone's familiar with: Song of the Dragonborn (song you hear in the background of the main menu and during dragon fights).

Recommend anyone who hasn't, listen to the Malukah covers on youtube. An album with full orchestration on that would be great.

And on the subject of TES, also Skyrim. Had some great music, especially the piece everyone's familiar with: Song of the Dragonborn (song you hear in the background of the main menu and during dragon fights).

The Sovngarde music is better, IMO. I actually cracked my windshield playing it in the car with my woofer running. The epic drum pounding and chanting.

Incidentally, I'm from Minnesota, which pretty much is Skyrim, minus the annoying mountains that get in the way when you want to travel somewhere.

No games are not art. They cannot ever be art. The word has a specific meaning that games will never fall under. The interactive nature of games exclude them from properly being called so.

Do games use elements of art? Can they evoke the same emotions? Do they require the same talent, drive, and creativity as art? Can games have the same value? Of course they can. They can also be something better, an experience more valuable to a consumer.

I think games are called art in an attempt to legitimize their value. Stop doing this. Games will be just fine on their own. You only offend those you are looking to convince and they will lash out. Artist have traditionally been a bit on the sensitive side. The hard work and abilities of game makers should be what causes games to be accepted as something equal to art. Not shoehorning them into a definition. Video games are a modern idea, part of the evolution of our culture. Let us embrace that it is something different.

No games are not art. They cannot ever be art. The word has a specific meaning that games will never fall under. The interactive nature of games exclude them from properly being called so.

So...architecture isn't art, because we interact with buildings, right? Neither is any performance where the performer interacts with the audience, or any improvised musical performance where the musician takes into account the audience's reaction. Neither is sculpture, unless the sculptor can control exactly what angle from which we look at his/her work.

That's the same idiotic, 18th-century concept of what art is that Roger Ebert uses to justify his strange ideas. Actually, it's not even 18th century - 18th-century musicians (Beethoven especially) were renowned for their spontaneous improvisations based on suggestions from the audience.

No games are not art. They cannot ever be art. The word has a specific meaning that games will never fall under. The interactive nature of games exclude them from properly being called so.

So...architecture isn't art, because we interact with buildings, right? Neither is any performance where the performer interacts with the audience, or any improvised musical performance where the musician takes into account the audience's reaction. Neither is sculpture, unless the sculptor can control exactly what angle from which we look at his/her work.

That's the same idiotic, 18th-century concept of what art is that Roger Ebert uses to justify his strange ideas. Actually, it's not even 18th century - 18th-century musicians (Beethoven especially) were renowned for their spontaneous improvisations based on suggestions from the audience.

Yes, architecture is art. In what way are you interacting with buildings that changes their aesthetics? That would be vandalism. As far as an artist interaction with an audience to create art goes. That is not art. That is inspiration. A thought by itself is not art. Thoughts are a tool. Is a paintbrush art? I don't understand the sculpture bit. That has nothing to do with what I said. I'm sure the artist understands that it will be viewed from different angles. Just as I'm sure they consider that it may evoke a different response in individuals.

Wheels Of Confusion wrote:

Quote:

Video games are a modern idea, part of the evolution of our culture.

Sounds like art to me.

Ass fuck jazz fudge sounds like the divinity of Christ to me. That doesn't make it valid. Is art the only thing that can reflect culture? Is anything that reflects culture art?

Roger Ebert loves video games by the way. So much so he became addicted to them and pretty much stopped playing them.

As far as an artist interaction with an audience to create art goes. That is not art. That is inspiration. A thought by itself is not art. Thoughts are a tool. Is a paintbrush art?

You seem to be taking your focus in a very granular place here. Audience participation isn't just the audience shouting a request and the performer playing it like a jukebox. Involving the audience in the process of creation does not mean the creation is not art, and it certainly doesn't mean the audience isn't involved. Art is not just something that must be passively consumed, it is often participatory. Any attempt to restrict the definition to something that must be passively consumed is going to run into trouble. And can a paintbrush be art? Certainly.

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Video games are a modern idea, part of the evolution of our culture.

Sounds like art to me.

Ass fuck jazz fudge sounds like the divinity of Christ to me. That doesn't make it valid. Is art the only thing that can reflect culture? Is anything that reflects culture art?

The latter question is getting more to the heart of the matter than questions about interactivity, I think. I have a somewhat liberal operating definition of art that many, perhaps most, videogames would fall under. But let me ask you this: is a Choose Your Own Adventure book any less "art" than a Hardy Boys novella? The CYA book is definitely more interactive, the reader plays a role in determining the outcome of any particular reading. Couldn't the same be said of videogames?

Kyle Orland / Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in Pittsburgh, PA.